Macquarie group donates $US100,000 to Hurricane Katrina relief effort

12 September 2005

Macquarie group announced today it had pledged $US100,000 through the American Red Cross to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort in North America and would match all staff donations.

The Appeal provides shelter, food, health and mental health services, while the Red Cross focuses its disaster relief efforts on helping individuals and families affected by the disaster resume their normal daily lives.

The Red Cross also feeds emergency workers, handles inquiries from concerned family members outside the disaster area, provides blood and blood products to disaster victims, and helps those affected by the disaster access other available resources.

Macquarie group Executive Chairman David Clarke said the donation would be made by Macquarie's businesses in North America in conjunction with the Macquarie Foundation, the group's philanthropic arm.

"Our response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster has been driven by a collective effort from our staff and businesses," he said. "The hurricane has affected a region to which Macquarie has close and growing ties and our staff has responded accordingly."

Mr Clarke said the Macquarie Foundation was one of the pioneers of corporate philanthropy in Australia and today supported more than 250 not-for-profit organizations and provided community grants in excess of $A3.5 million a year.

"The Foundation has a record of providing community support dating back to its inception more than 30 years ago," Mr Clarke said. "We have an ongoing commitment to support important initiatives that impact positively on society."

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Macquarie group (Macquarie) is a diversified international provider of specialist financial and investment banking services, with over 6,800 people in 23 countries. The Macquarie group comprises Macquarie Bank Limited, a company authorized under the Banking Act 1959 (Cth) to conduct banking business in Australia, and its worldwide affiliated entities. Macquarie Bank is not licensed to conduct banking business in the United States and maintains Representative Offices in California, New York, Texas and Washington.

For further information, please contact:

Julie White
Manager
Macquarie Bank Foundation
No.1 Martin Place
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: 612 8232 9673
Fax: 612 8232 6346
Email: julie.white@macquarie.com

Judy Warren
Marketing & Communications Manager
Chicago
Macquarie group
Tel: 1 312 499 8660